October 2023 Group read #1 - How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

[Laura]

I am in! Just started this!

[Kasia]

Hi Laura, welcome! Thank you for reading with us :)

[Vanessa]

I read this a few months back, and I liked it a lot. Hendrix is usually a safe bet for me. Even my least favorite book by him was still enjoyable.

I thought Mark and Louise were annoying in the beginning, but I loved them by the end after we got to see how their relationship got to be the way it is.

[Heather]

Just got this yesterday from my library and excited to start group reading! Read The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires and really liked it!

[Shera]

“How To Sell a Haunted House”- I finished this book. At first, I loved it because I really like suspense and the beginning was suspenseful. I just kept thinking, “What is going on in this house?” The buildup was so creepy and wonderful. Then, I started getting really tired of the brother and sister dynamic in the book and everything just kind of went on and on. Without giving spoilers, I just had a hard time buying some of the horror elements in the book. I almost stopped reading it when I had about 100 pages left. However, I pushed through and I’m glad that I did. I did not predict the last 100 pages and what was really going on. I really liked the ending and gave it 3 stars in the end instead of the 2 that I thought I was going to give it. It’s worth it to finish this book.

[Andrew “The Weirdling”]

Chapter 37… gives me MAJOR Critters 2 vibes, and those vibes are awesome.

[Andrew “The Weirdling”]

Done! I really enjoyed this one. Time well spent. I’m so grateful for these group reads. They’re almost always so good.

[LTJ]

@Andrew: That's so awesome to hear and glad you also enjoyed it! LoL what a ride :-D

[Kasia]

I'm on page 50 and the family dynamics are really well crafted here, it will make the whole story no matter how fantastical that much more real I think.

Mark reminds me of Daphne's brother from that show Frasier lol.

[destiny ♡]

Kasia wrote: "I'm on page 50 and the family dynamics are really well crafted here, it will make the whole story no matter how fantastical that much more real I think.

Mark reminds me of Daphne's brother from th..."

I feel like that's one of my favorite things about Grady's books - the characters always feel SO real to me that it makes it very easy to suspend disbelief for the plot!

[Kasia]

destiny ♡ wrote: "I feel like that's one of my favorite things about Grady's books - the characters always feel SO real to me that it makes it very easy to suspend disbelief for the plot!"

Ah awesome. I'm new to him, only on my 2nd book but he grounds the characters well without reading off some list or doing an info dump. The contrasts between her and her brother in this big situation is such a great stage for the characters to reveal a bit of who they are. Even the way Louise is seeing the house as she's walking through it is creepy and interesting.

[Kasia]

Im not there yet and I feel like Im getting extra info in this thread. Please use spoiler tags for mentioning specifics, thank you ! :) <3

[Rachel]

finished this earlier today! (view spoiler)[i've been chewing it over + decided it was a middling read for me. i enjoyed parts of the beginning + the middle, but the last bit hit best for me. lots of really good horror going on + i loved the reveal!
the middle felt really saggy + i got tired of the sibling bickering pretty quick. it was really weird to me that they seemed to come to an understanding, but hendrix kept reverting back to the bickering? it was like he kept undoing the character growth for plot.

i already struggle a bit with grady hendrix anyway, tbh. he has these really fun ideas, but i always feel like he loses his thread partway through, which is where i find it starts to drag. additionally, he really beats the reader over the head by overexplaining the metaphors, which is an irritant for me. c'mon, bro, trust me to be able to put it together! i could tell the house was a metaphor without you spelling it out! 😋

glad i gave this one a shot tho! there were some really good scenes that i had a good time with. also, i really enjoyed the southern book club's guide to slaying vampires + i keep hoping one of his other books will hit as good as that one did, lol.

excited to hear y'all's thoughts too! (hide spoiler)]

[Brenna]

Starting today! Excited to jump in!

[Kasia]

Hi Brenna, hope you enjoy doing the buddy read with us!

[Kasia]

Rachel wrote: "finished this earlier today! .."

Best part about finishing is going through all the spoiler comments, will be back to read this one :)

[Zen]

Andrew “The Weirdling” wrote: "Chapter 22 - where Mark reveals what really happened over that semester at Boston University - might be one of my favorite chapters ever written by Hendrix. I was alternating between horror and hil..."

I have found that Hendrix is fantastic at writing scenes like this. A lot of times when I read his novels, I spend most of my time equal parts horrified and amused. Sometimes I am both at the same time.

[Kasia]

Emma wrote: "I love this quote 😂
"

Please use spoiler tags when the quote if from a further point in the story and let us know the page/chapter so ppl will know if they can read the spoiler.

[Jay]

6 chapters in and enjoying it so far. Already enjoying it more than Horrorstor, which relied on its gimmick too much. I really enjoy a good a-hole character, and Mark is enjoyable as hell, so far.

[Salustiano]

How do I set up a group read for you guys? I think you guys and gals may dig my book, “Growing Children.”

[Kimberly]

Salustiano wrote: "How do I set up a group read for you guys? I think you guys and gals may dig my book, “Growing Children.”"

Group Reads are chosen by the members with nominations, and later a poll with the top nominations for the theme of the month.
Please keep author promotions in the "Author/Publisher promotions" thread.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
*Also, books should be in the horror genre.*

[Kasia]

Jay wrote: "6 chapters in and enjoying it so far. Already enjoying it more than Horrorstor, which relied on its gimmick too much. I really enjoy a good a-hole character, and Mark is enjoyable as hell, so far."

I'm on Chapter 6 right now as well, and damn Pumpkin's outfit and description gave me heebie-jeebies lol.

Mark is entertaining, I enjoy his scenes more than I thought I would.

[Kimberly]

Kasia wrote: "Jay wrote: "6 chapters in and enjoying it so far. Already enjoying it more than Horrorstor, which relied on its gimmick too much. I really enjoy a good a-hole character, and Mark is enjoyable as he..."

Pumpkin still creeps me out!

[Leigh]

just started this book! So far, I'm loving all the porcelain doll references. I have several that I have painted to look creepy. :)

[LTJ]

That's so awesome, Leigh! Also everyone, I believe this novel is being made into a MOVIE!!! LoL can you imagine? I hope it happens since I'd love to see this on the big screen :-)

[Kimberly]

LTJ wrote: "That's so awesome, Leigh! Also everyone, I believe this novel is being made into a MOVIE!!! LoL can you imagine? I hope it happens since I'd love to see this on the big screen :-)"

A movie? This would actually work pretty well as one, I think.

[Charlene (Char)&#x1f341;☕️&#x1f4da;]

Hi everyone !! This month has been busy but I have been reading the book and OMG this is so good! I am now reading the chapter where Mark talks about what happened when he went to college and I know it’s going to be something good !

[LTJ]

@Kimberley: Oh yes, I think so too. It looks like it'll be out in 2024!

[LTJ]

@Char: Yay, welcome to the group read and totally understandable! Enjoy as this novel rocks :-D

[Bo]

This is the first of Hendrix's novels I've finished. I tried Final Girls Support Group, but it didn't snag me. I much preferred the family dynamics of this novel, though my appreciation of the protagonist wavered throughout the book. I would agree with most here that the chapter where Mark reveals his time in Boston was the best part of the book. Still, I find Hendrix's writing merely workman-like and the more supernatural elements a little too silly at times. The result is a pretty average book, in my opinion, but good enough to get me through to the final page. On to Silver Nitrate!

[Kasia]

Bo, reading both group reads, very nice, that will be my next book as well.

I've had a super slow reading week which is a bummer, just life stuff and have family visiting this week, hope to catch up.

[Kasia]

LTJ wrote: "That's so awesome, Leigh! Also everyone, I believe this novel is being made into a MOVIE!!! LoL can you imagine? I hope it happens since I'd love to see this on the big screen :-)"

Very cool, as always I'm a fan of reading the book 1st then watching the movie.

[Erika]

Andrew “The Weirdling” wrote: "I’m in chapter 5, with the elderly “aunts” and I’m just eating up every word of it. How did Hendrix write my family so well?!"

I loved that scene and bookmarked it!
Funeral planning with 90 yearish old southern matron:
Aunt Honey: No ambrosia salad! it's not a wedding!
We'll need two types of sandwiches, egg salad and pimento. Constance: But, what are we going to eat?
LOL

I'm at the 75% point and I don't want it to end. I literally started this yesterday morning and out of our two group reads this is the one for me! :D

[LTJ]

@Kasia: I try to do the same too! LoL just did that with My Best Friend's Exorcism a few weeks ago :-)

[Erika]

Finished! I really enjoyed this book. So campy!! I went back and forth on rating. I give it 5 stars based on my emotions, engagement, feelings about the characters and entire plot. I dropped a star because there were some areas in the latter part of the book that I felt slogged on a bit. It seemed like it took a longer time than needed to wrap up the ending. And to the ending--I was very satisfied with it! :) (view spoiler)[ I love the evolution of the siblings, the closure given to the family, and the fact that Aunt Honey and Louise had a sweet redeeming moment at the very end. I will say that really early on, I thought to myself, pupkin is possessed by Freddie so that wasn't a surprise to me but I love the whole premise! The sawed off arm!! omg this plot was everything, funny and scary. (hide spoiler)]

[Erika]

omg if anyone here lives in Missouri near Springfield (I don't!) you should go to this event! "This Halloween I’m in Springfield, MO performing How To Sell a Haunted House LIVE!
The show is FREE" info in a link on the homepage of gradyhendrix.com

Grady Hendrix Presents: “How to Sell A Haunted House” Live
Tuesday, October 31, 7 p.m.
The Gallery at the Gillioz, 325 Park Central E.
For adults

From Pliny the Younger to the Amityville Horror, we’ve been convinced there’s something undead living inside our homes rent-free for thousands of years. This Halloween, join New York Times bestselling author Grady Hendrix for another of his one-of-a-kind one-man shows, tap-dancing through the haunted hallways of houses from Downton Abbey-sized country homes to split-level suburban ranchers as we try to figure out why we’re so obsessed with the world’s worst roommates — ghosts. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

[Bo]

Kasia wrote: "Bo, reading both group reads, very nice, that will be my next book as well.

I've had a super slow reading week which is a bummer, just life stuff and have family visiting this week, hope to catch up."

Of course! I'm excited to start Silver Nitrate today.

[David]

I wish I hadn’t read this already. I loved this book and it really opened up Grady Hendrix for me. This is 100x better than the other book IMO.

[Celeste]

It wasn’t as malicious as I originally thought it would be or end the way I expected, but a comedic-terror tale that I enjoyed. I liked the banter between the siblings, and Mark’s experience was extraordinary - like a drug-induced hallucination. My favourite part is a tie between the squirrels and the circle of aunts, plus one.

[Karmen]

I LOVED this book - read it pretty much in one sitting. It has the usual Grady Hendrix touch, the strong and flawed protagonist, the humour, the dose of creep and gore (omg, the saw scene 😱)

I just love his style, it's so easy to read and the story sometimes goes to places you really don't want it to. This book has a fantastic premise and the story does a great job of bringing together a cast of characters who know how to pull each other's strings.

I found my alliance to the characters shift throughout the story. Although I liked Louise throughout the whole story, I went from strongly disliking her brother Mark (he was sooooo annoying at the start) to understanding and liking him at the end as they grow closer. Their overcoming personal differences and digging through the family's past was the highlight of the story.

And the puppets. The Pupkin was absolutely terrifying and kept on coming back. Although I suspected the reveal which was connected to Pupkin, the ending was still very satisfying.

So many great lines about puppets and masks in the book too.

I'm definitely a fan

[Pixelina]

I read this a few months ago and loved it. By far my fave Hendrix book. I pretty much read it in just a day or two.

[Brennan]

Finished this book late last night I have a few thoughts

(view spoiler)[
Louise sucked for 2/3rd of the book

I think I understand the point Hendrix is making though. Louise is making all the same mistakes her mother did and trying to justify it. I think it goes over the top though with Louise's skepticism though. However, in the same breath, I was thinking Louise's extreme skepticism is contrasted by her mother's extreme escapism.

Mark's character is well written

I enjoy the way when you first meet Mark you hate him and for good reason. As the story progresses though, you notice Louise is also cruel to him and refuses to entertain his emotions. Eventually you learn the traumas Mark has had to deal with alone (in college) and start to see his point of view much clearer. To criticize one part of his character though, I find Mark's sarcasm annoying as hell. Especially when he's doing it during serious, intense situations.

I think Pupkin is terrifying

I noticed some people are saying they didn't find the book scary at all, if anything it was comical during violent scenes. I sympathize with this a bit, because at first when the book described Pupkin, I imagined him to look like a gingerbread man. After the descriptions from Mark's college chapter, he turned into a sinister dirty clown hanging from strings in my head. In later scenes, I got chills.

(hide spoiler)]

Anyway, this was my first Hendrix book and I already picked up "My Best Friend's Exorcism" to read next.

[Alan]

Brennan wrote: "Finished this book late last night I have a few thoughts full of SPOILERS.
."

When posting spoilers please always use spoiler tags
< spoiler> text text text < /spoiler> (minus the spaces after the <'s)

[Brennan]

Alan wrote: "Brennan wrote: "Finished this book late last night I have a few thoughts full of SPOILERS.
."

When posting spoilers please always use spoiler tags
text text text (minus the spaces after the <'s)"

Thanks, fixed

[Erika]

Just read your review, Alan. I can definitely see why you feel the way you do about it. This is my first Grady Hendrix read, so to me, it was a very new experience to be laughing this much in a horror book which I haven't done in a long time!

I checked out the book Horrorstor months ago and love the idea but wasnt in the right mood at the time and didn't get past a few pages---will get to it another time!)

What is your favorite Grady book?

[Kaitlan]

Anyone else craving Waffle House now?

[LTJ]

@Kaitlan: YES! LoL I love Waffle House, especially late at night with iced coffees!!!

[Kasia]

When I'm too lazy to cook or its too tired I love those frozen waffles you toast up and sometimes add butter and strawberry jam on top, easy peasy lol.

[Kasia]

Sorry Im so slow, I've been in a weird reading slump and just dealing with some personal stuff ( lost a pet yesterday) so I have a lot of catching up to do.

On page 140 now and really enjoying it even tho most of the action didn't start yet but def didn't expect for (view spoiler)[ Louise to be attacked by a squirrel nativity scene, I was horrified and laughing thorough the whole thing. And I was feeding squirrels who come to my door, they have a strong love for almonds lol, perfect timing. (hide spoiler)]

[Leigh]

I also am being super slow this month. I like it so far. Only one comment....I...hate...puppets now so thanks for that